I am assuming if you are reading this, you are about to celebrate your child’s first birthday. So, let me start off by saying congratulations! Your child’s first birthday can be a hugely emotional time for everyone. They are out of the monthly milestones, and I feel like it is so important to capture this final “baby” milestone for you and your family to look back on. Planning a one year photoshoot can be overwhelming, so let me give you a few of my favorite tips! 

Where To Have Your Session?

You can totally go the route where you rent a studio and plan a whole themed photo session. You probably have a walking baby at this point, so an outdoor session is always fun. Or you can have your photo session in your own home! It is important to consider the season when you are choosing a location. It doesn’t really matter which season your child’s birthday fall in, there are always beautiful locations to choose from. But it is something to think about in regards to the vibe you are looking for with your photos. If your session is going to be in the winter and your child hates the cold, an indoor session would be the better choice. If it is the middle of summer, you could go somewhere close to water. But, if it is going to be cold you might want to stay away from water so your child won’t be tempted to get wet. The season is the biggest factor in choosing your location. If you choose me as your photographer, I have a whole location database for you to look through once you book your session. I will help take a lot of the guesswork out of your choices. 

Why In Home Sessions Are My Favorite

Aside from being able to remember your life during this time when you look back at the photos, people are usually more comfortable in their own homes. It really makes the session more unique to you and your family. If you had your newborn photos taken in your home, you can recreate some of the photos with your one year old! I can document you doing your child’s favorite activity, or we could even bake their smash cake in your own kitchen. There are so many options for us to choose from!

How Do I Prepare My One Year Old?

The best way to prepare your child for the photoshoot is to plan it around a time when they are usually feeling their best. Now, they are kids…so things might go sideways no matter how much we plan. But it sets us up for success if we don’t try to completely change their schedule to fit in a photo session. I also always recommend some gummies or another type of candy to use as a rewards system (read bribe) during your session. I run the sessions around what your child wants to do, so most of the time they are enjoying playing their favorite game, but you never know when you will need to pull out reinforcements.

Do I Need To Have A Cake?

The short answer is, no! Not if you don’t want to. We can plan the session around your family’s favorite activity. It doesn’t have to be super themed. My style tends to shy away from overly themed photoshoots in general. The focus can just be how much your child has grown. OR a smash cake is a really fun way to end a session. It is totally up to you and how you want your photoshoot to go. 

There are so many things to think about when planning a one year photoshoot! If you decide to use me as your photographer we can talk through all the options. I have personalized mood boards for every client based on what we are planning. I can help you plan your outfits and any activity you might want to do during your session. There are a world of possibilities, and I really strive to make each session unique to your family.

Want to inquire about your own one year photoshoot?

CLICK HERE

Want to see more of my work? 

CLICK HERE